Raymond Carver Writing Festival/Memorial

Raymond “Clevie” Carver, Jr. (1938-1988) was an American poet and writer known for the revitalization of the “short
story” form in the late 20th century.  He was the author of 10 books of short stories and poetry, including “Where I’m
Calling From: New and Selected Stories,” “Cathedral,” “Will You Please Be Quiet, Please,” “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” “Fire,” “Where Water Comes Together” and “Ultramarine.”  Carver’s work has been compared to that of Stephen Crane and Ernest Hemingway. 

The Raymond Carver Writing Festival is an annual gathering filled with writing workshops and literary hands-on events targeted for young and old alike led by noted authors and poets, held in Carver’s birthplace of Clatskanie, Oregon. An after-hours event, sponsored by the Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Clatskanie Library traditionally launches the festival, which is scheduled in remembrance of Carver’s birth in
Clatskanie on May 25, 1938 -   The event includes classroom instruction led by noted authors including poets,
with additional offerings such as book signings by authors and lunch at the nearby Flippin Castle National Historic Site.  The festival is unique in that literary members of Carver’s own family participate in the organization and workshop presentations, including his son Vance Carver, an educator and writer in his own right, and nephew Caleb Barber, who is a poet.

• Festival held annually in May; memorial open year-round
• ADA accessible
• Trained guides available
• Visitor center nearby
• Interpretive signage
• Located on both public and private land
  This annual writing Festival was started in 2007 by writer/poet/artist Ernest Carman.